Can Cranberry Products Reduce Urinary Infections in Hospitals - Literature review Example

?Can cranberry juice/ cranberry products help reduce urinary tract infections in hospitals? Introduction Urinary tract infection is a common type of infection in the body and according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), it “account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year. Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are not yet well understood”. An infection occurs due to migration of bacteria from the digestive tract, and most infections are caused by the bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), entering into the system from the colon. Apart from E. coli, Chlamydia and Mycoplasma may cause UTIs which might be sexually transmitted. The urinary system normally prevents bacterial growth, and the secretions of prostate gland slow down bacterial growth. Some doctors suggest drinking cranberry juice for treating UTI, and according to cranberryjuice.com, drinking cranberry juice, with its anti-adhesive properties, washes away bacteria and other foreign stuff from the urinary tract. It is believed that the acts effectively against all types of urinary and bladder infection, not just UTI. Cranberry for the treatment of urinary tract infections Science daily reported “Chemicals present in cranberries—and not the acidity of cranberry juice, as previously thought—prevent infection-causing bacteria from attaching to the cells that line the urinary tract, as documented in a report published in Journal of Medicinal Food”. The concept of cranberry as medicine on a scientific basis through research has been evolving over the period of time. This paper seeks to study the findings of some of the primary researches made and general literature review with reference to the question “Can cranberry juice/cranberry products help reduce urinary tract infections in hospitals?” Research in the area The following research projects have focused their study to evaluate the efficacy of cranberry juice in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Project 1: The research made by Johnson, Lin, Rubin, & Malanoski was focused on media acidification by Escherichia coli in the presence of cranberry juice. Summary of the research Methodology: The media pH for E. coli cultured in LB broth with 10% cranberry juice was monitored over 300 generations of bacterial growth. Findings: E. coli was grown in media spiked with cranberry juice. The pH of the growth media was found to decrease during cell growth. This result was unique to media spiked with cranberry juice and was not reproduced through the addition of sugars, proanthocyanidins, or metal chelators to growth media. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that factors other than sugars or proanthocyanidins in cranberry juice result in acidification of the growth media. Further studies are necessary for a complete understanding of the antimicrobial activity of cranberry products. Project 2: McHarg, Rodgers & Charlton have investigated into the potential influence of cranberry juice on risk factors associated with the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Summary of the research Methodology: Urinary variables were assessed in a randomized cross-over trial in 20 South African men (students) with no previous history of kidney stones. The people were divided into two groups for different dietary and fluid intakes. 24-h urine samples were collected at baseline and on day 14 of the trial periods. Urine analysis data were used to calculate the relative urinary super-saturations of calcium oxalate, uric acid and calcium phosphate. Data were assessed statistically by analysis of variance. Findings: The ingestion of cranberry juice significantly and uniquely altered three key urinary risk factors. Oxalate and phosphate excretion decreased while citrate excretion increased. In addition, there was a decrease in the relative supersaturation of calcium oxalate. Conclusion: Cranberry juice has antilithogenic properties and, as such, deserves consideration as a conservative therapeutic protocol in managing calcium oxalate urolithiasis. Project 3: Han et al. conducted research to assess the effects of cranberry fruit for its antioxidant effects on infection-induced oxidative renal damage in rabbits. Summary of the research Methodology: 36 New Zealand male rabbits were divided into five groups, with a sham operation in four rabbits serving as the control (group 1). To create unilateral VUR the roof of the left intravesical ureter was incised, and VUR confirmed 2 weeks after surgery. In all, 32 rabbits with VUR were divided into four groups; 2, VUR alone (with sterile urine); 3, a group infected with Escherichia coli; 4, with intravesical E. coli instillation but fed cranberries; and 5, intravesical E. coli instillation plus an intraperitoneal injection with melatonin group. At 3 weeks after surgery the rabbits were killed, the kidneys obtained and examined histopathologically to evaluate inflammation, fibrosis and tubular changes. Oxidative renal damage was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde in the renal tissue. Findings: Grossly, the refluxing kidney was larger than the contralateral normal kidney, and the refluxing ureter was dilated and tortuous. Microscopy of tissues from the kidneys in group 3 showed apparent periglomerular mononuclear cell infiltration, tubular dilatation and atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. The kidneys from groups 2, 4 and 5 showed mild mononuclear cell infiltration with no interstitial fibrosis. The level of malondialdehyde in the kidneys of group 3 was significantly higher than that in group 2, 4 and 5 (P  Read More